She welcomed her baby boy with husband Alex about three months ago.
And Olivia Bowen shared candid photos Saturday of herself breastfeeding her son Abel as she candidly discussed her journey since becoming a mother.
The Love Island star, 28, revealed she wasn’t sure she’d be able to breastfeed when she first got pregnant because she ‘isn’t a mother’ – as well as explained that sometimes there are ‘tough days’ . process.
New mum: Olivia Bowen shared candid photos of her breastfeeding her son Abel on Saturday as she candidly discusses her journey since becoming a mother
She shared two pictures – one looking glamorous as she held her little one and the other was the ‘real’ shot as she looked teary and tired while breastfeeding.
She wrote in a long caption: ‘Never thought I would breastfeed. I think before Abel was born where I felt like I wasn’t a maternal person, I had serious doubts that this would work for me and I didn’t feel comfortable even thinking about it!
‘I would even go so far as to say that it bothered me a little. You all know I wasn’t sure about having kids and that’s mainly because I felt like I’d be such a crap as a mother, not in my body before Abel.
Honest: The Love Island star, 28, reveals she wasn’t sure she’d be able to breastfeed when she first got pregnant because she’s ‘not a mother’
‘Fast forward to the time Abel was born, and latched onto the hospital for the first time, it didn’t feel more natural. I will always be grateful for the bond and connection I feel with her while eating.
‘It’s been 2 months now and still breastfeeding and watching her grow on something my body produces especially for her is incredibly rewarding. I never expected to breastfeed, I didn’t pressure myself to do so, but I’m so glad we were able to ️.
She continued: ‘It’s not always easy, the feelings are no joke in the first few weeks. I’ve had some days where he didn’t latch properly and I felt like a complete failure, I felt like I was failing and failing him – even though I didn’t seem to be bothered about breastfeeding. Told myself before.
Candid: She wrote in a long caption: ‘I never thought I’d breastfeed. I think before Abel was born where I felt like I wasn’t a maternal person, I had serious doubts that this would work for me.
‘The first week I was squeezing my engorged breasts over the shower, I woke up with leaking wet sheets and I was constantly worried about how much he was getting and was it good enough?!
‘I was sure I’d stop breastfeeding after a month, then told myself 3 months and now I’m 6! There is no such feeling. When his little eyes look at me and when he falls asleep and is satisfied. Who am I so close to you!!!! I would never have imagined writing this.
‘There are tough days, but there are so many wonderful days and they make tough people feel like a million miles away. I can’t even explain how amazing it feels to watch my baby grow out of my body after 9 months of developing from the same body.
Doting mom: This comes after last month Olivia shared this photo as she proudly held her baby as she returned to work for the first time – five weeks after giving birth
She signed off saying: ‘It taught me to just trust the process, trust myself and believe that I am doing everything I can. I feel so lucky that we’ve got here, no matter how long this food journey, whether it’s months longer or weeks longer or days longer – I’m grateful I had so much time!’
It comes after last month Olivia was glowing as she shared a radiant video on Instagram of her breastfeeding Abel, as she returned to work for a photoshoot in London.
She smiled as she nursed her newborn and gently rocked it from side to side as she proudly said that she ‘shuddered off her worries**.’
Olivia stunned as her blonde hair caught the wind and she sported a glamorous face of makeup for the shoot.
Along with the incredible video, he wrote: Back and I’m better. Back to work today on a fantastic shoot around London with an incredible brand and my baby AJ.
‘I’m so tired now, as I said on my stories I was so nervous but wanted to do it for me and take away the worries**!’
He continued: ‘I think that’s very accomplished; I am doing what I love, being me and a mother at the same time. Don’t lose yourself mom, you deserve to be you too.
‘My team could not have done this without @ab_bowen @charhilditch @annalingis.’
Olivia welcomed Abel with her husband Alex, formerly a sales executive and loft, respectively, earlier this summer.
They rose to fame in 2016, where she was an original star and she, a late and hugely popular entrant.
Their romance soon went from strength to strength after they left the villa and Alex was questioned in New York in 2016.
Love-up couple Olivia and Alex tied the knot in a glittering Essex ceremony two years after they met on Love Island during series two.
Happy family: Olivia welcomed son Abel with husband Alex, whom she met on the ITV2 reality series Love Island, earlier this summer
